Thomas Merton in New Seeds of Contemplation wrote this:

“A revolution is supposed to be a change that turns everything completely around. But the ideology of political revolution will never change anything except appearances.”

Here is the mantra I carry and say from time to time: All the “isms” will fail. Capitalism. Socialism. Communism. Name your ideology.

The Kingdom of God is transcendent. THIS is what will last.

Each of the “isms” have their own fatal flaw. When one “ism” defeats another “ism,” we are still dealing with the same problem: a small group of people in control and using that power and control to exploit everyone else for their own personal gain. All the same problems will keep arising: greed, cruelty, lust, exploitation, etc.

All will be as it was before.

This is why I want to be consumed with the affections of Christ. This is why I want to know HIM and learn the ways of the Kingdom.

Hebrews 12:28–29 (NRSVue)

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

Daniel saw in his vision a rock that would not be destroyed, and it would take down all empires and “isms” that had come before.

Daniel 2:34–35 (NRSVue)

³⁴ As you looked on, a stone was cut out, not by human hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. ³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Each generation has to discover the beauty of the Church and the power of the Kingdom of God. Each generation needs to return to the source.

This is why I pursue the affections of Christ. I want what is solid, eternal, and going to overcome. While I may have preferences of “isms” in where I live (and I have that luxury in the U.S., at least for now), I do not raise any “ism” to the place where it is my main “lens” of looking at life or the world around me. The Kingdom of God is my first “lens” (or filter) and it is also my last “lens” (or filter). I want the affections of Christ running my life from the deepest part of my soul so I do not walk in fear or anger.